Critic Reviews

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100

GamesAreFun.com (GAF)

If this game doesn't sound interesting (awesome) by now, then it's suprising this sentence is even being read. A marvelous game that will remain in my collection forever, Disgaea is bound to please. RPG lovers, strategy fans, and those just enjoy a good time, Disgaea is a masterpiece easily overlooked on a system with hundreds of games to play. Do not overlook this one, as Atlus has brought another classic to the US.

What a game! Those of you who have been waiting for a game to surpass Final Fantasy Tactics, and those of you who enjoy strategy RPG games in general, should definitely rush out and pick up Disgaea: Hour of Darkness because there isn't any game out there quite like it. Even if you aren't usually into games from this genre I would give it a go because what we have here is one of the finest games you can buy for the PlayStation 2.

Aside from the niggling issues with the game, Disgaea carries several very quirky aspects and an excellent base of gameplay. With almost unparalleled levels of customization and near unlimited amounts of replay value, Disgaea will keep many people busy for a long time.

The PS2 library is overflowing with RPG titles, so any new RPG coming out for the console really needs to bring something to the table in order to be noticed. Well folks, I think the table just about collapsed with all of the features that are packed into Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. With so many different things to do (and different ways to do them), this title has seemingly unlimited replay value.

With so much to do, so much to see, and so much to unlock, the completists out there will be spending hundreds upon hundreds of hours with this game. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though -- because when a game's as good as Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, it deserves to be played.

It's official: RPG enthusiasts are in heaven. Already inundated by a wave of new role-playing adventures in the first eight months of 2003 alone, it's been a great time for PS2 owners to love the genre. Xenosaga, Dark Cloud 2, dot-hack, and Arc the Lad are but a few of the titles we've seen this year already, and there's still plenty more on the way. Not to be outdone by big name companies like Square Enix and Sony, however, the moderately sized Japanese publisher Atlus Software has gotten into the mix as well. Best known for its Ogre Battle and Devil Summoner franchises, Atlus is looking to kick off a new mainstay with its new strategy/RPG experiment Disgaea: Hour of Darkness.

If you are a fan of strategy RPGs of any sort, then do yourself a favor and buy this game. It may be hard to find though, because not only is it pretty popular, but it also looks like there weren’t a whole lot of them released. This game will not be enjoyed by non-RPG fans though. I mean, if you’ve played RPGs and just don’t “get it”, then you’ll hate this game. You may like the story, but all those battles will be too boring for you, so just avoid the game. To RPG fans, BUY THE GAME, dood!

Past the thirteen chapters of the story mode, you can keep playing and playing. I’ve poured almost 150 hours into the game in my 2 years of owning it, and it’s still enjoyable, with nothing at all repetitive. And that’s the special thing about Disgaea: Hour of Darkness that makes it worth owning. It never gets boring. No matter how long you play it for, or how much complexity you take from the game – be it right down to the deepest levels, or just scratch the surface, barely going into the Dark Assembly, you will still enjoy it for its originality, funniness, freshness, and huge cast of hilarious and brilliant characters. It’s unlikely to appeal to casual gamers. But this is a site for RPG fans, so to you guys I say: Pick this up. It's fantastic.

As well as the main story battles there’s an item world section where you can literally enter and physically level up any item in your inventory, adding a mind-blowing depth of player control. The micromanagement is on a previously unimagined macro scale yet is accessible and coherent enough to draw you in, making hours of concentrated playtime pass like minutes. The story uncurls with anime charm and cross-cultural comedy that will delight its target audience. With a very different feel to the usual medieval SRPG fare, Disgaea lacks some of the polish of Squaresoft’s crown holder. But its strength lies in gritty, compulsive complexity – Edge can only admit that the genre has a new king. Unfortunately, devoid of Final Fantasy licence there will be few to rule over.

If you’re a fan of the genre and don’t have this game: rush out and buy it now. This easily the most fun Strategy RPG around, and in my opinion, the best. If you haven’t played this type of game before (and it’s quite possible, not many of these games make it over here) then Disgaea is a great game to start out with, as the tutorials are good, and it’s not overly hard to begin with.

These complaints aside, Disgaea really is a truly wonderful game, bursting with style and creativity, and absolutely filled with stuff to do. While some will undoubtedly find that the game's eccentric qualities take some getting used to, it is those qualities in the end that make this such a wonderful game, and one that any fan of strat-RPGs must own.

What isn’t funny at all, and the game’s only major issue, is the camera control. While you can rotate the camera during battles, the angle is unchangeable. You’ll sometimes find it hard to see where monsters or treasure are hidden, and it’s possible to blow a Geo Panel combo because you missed that crystal tucked away behind a column. There should have been an overhead map feature similar to the one found in Vandal Hearts, where you could zoom the map out at will and locate friend or foe. It’s not enough of an issue to be a game killer, but it definitely makes things way too tough at times. But hell, if you’re a SRPG fan you’ll most likely be hooked the moment you crack the shrink wrap. Disgaea is a winner from start to finish, and one of the best games in the genre in years.

In the end, Jimmie was right—Disgaea is an evil game that will take over a gamer's life if they're not careful. With so much to do, so much to see, and so much to unlock, the completists out there will be spending hundreds upon hundreds of hours with this game. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, because when a game's as good as Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, it deserves to be played.

However, Disgaea is more than just "good if you like that sort of thing" - it's one of the best titles the PS2 has seen to date, and although its strength lies in depth, longevity and gameplay rather than in artistry and atmosphere, it still deserves to stand shoulder to shoulder with ICO in the rankings of "the best games you've never played". Even if turn-based strategy isn't your thing, Disgaea is a game you should at least try out; as the pinnacle of the genre, post-Final Fantasy Tactics, and as possibly the most engrossing videogame you'll ever play.

Have I covered every little aspect of Disgaea? No, I have not. That would be rather time-consuming, as there are many smaller nuggets of charm that would take me ages to convey. I have to nap sometime, you know. But the main message I want to get across is that Disgaea is a unique entry amongst the many tactical RPGs out there and definitely not one that should be ignored simply for its odd nature. Behind the penguins and horse wieners lies a thorough and rewarding journey. It's more than your average game, and it's definitely worth checking out, Considering it was part of the PlayStation 2's Greatest Hits lineup, it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg. Play on, dood!

While not earth-shattering or ground-breaking, Disgaea is most definitely fun and entertaining. It is chock full of wisecracks and rude jokes, along with some foreseeable happenings, but a fair amount of unexpected ones. In short: this is a good game. It is most certainly worth everyone's time, especially those with a love for Strategy RPGs.

This is a great game if you can find it. It’s funny and has lots ofcharm and lasting appeal. There aren’t many games that encourage you totake advantage of all the little glitches and that offer a fresh worldand characters. If you love strategy RPGs then pick this game up.Guaranteed fun.

Overall, despite the few shortcomings, Disgaea is highly-addictive and fun to play, especially if you like character and party building. It offers a lot more flexibility and freedom in playing style than other RPGs of its kind. Best of all (or maybe not), it feels like the kind of game that you can just play and play forever. I thought I had totally burnt myself out, playing for over four hours a day for over a week. I wondered if it was possible to ruin a game by playing it too much. But 60 hours in, I still want more.

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is a difficult game to describe with only one word. I should know, I’ve spent the past two days trying to discover a proper adjective. After loudly and repeatedly swearing at my thesaurus, I have finally found the perfect word for the game, even though I am loathe to use it in polite conversation: cute. Yes, I know, this is one of the most uncouth words to ever make its way into a game review. Before you break out the straightjacket, though, let me show you something. According to the Mirriam-Webster Dictionary, “cute” means, “1 a : clever or shrewd often in an underhanded manner b : IMPERTINENT, SMART-ALECKY.”

Overall, Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is an original and refreshing take on the strategy RPG sub-genre. The near limitless play potential makes this game a godsend for obsessive, compulsive fans of this style of play, and the ocean deep gameplay ensures that there is always something new to do. Diehard tactical RPG fan or not, you’d still do well to check this game out.

"Really something" is maybe the right way to describe Disgaea overall. It's a game that's unorthodox above all else, and filled with plenty of cheeky humor, some likable characters, a number of intriguing gameplay elements, and a many, many hours of turn-based combat. This is one of those games that could literally last you a couple of hundred hours if you let it, and if that sounds exciting rather than just plain scary, then by all means give the game a shot. Even if you don't end up leveling your characters into the hundreds or thousands, you'll still probably be glad you got as far as you did.

Disgaea’s visual and aural components may be somewhat dated, but the gameplay suffers from no such ailment. Admittedly, the high level of difficulty may make it irritating at times, but the engrossing battle and character development systems will always keep you coming back for more. Casual gamers may find the entire experience a little overwhelming, but role-playing aficionados will be hard pressed to find a deeper, more enjoyable title on the PlayStation 2.

All this nifty side stuff can greatly extend a game that could otherwise be beaten in “only” 25 hours. Some of the sidequests are absolutely absurd with a difficulty level which makes the main quest seem like a tutorial. One day, while I’m on my deathbed, I’m going to wonder where my life went. Before I breathe my final breath, my life will flash before my eyes and I’ll realize I’ve played too many games. Long ones with tons of replay value, like Disgaea will turn out to be the main life waster. If only all the long games I’ve played were as enjoyable as this one, then perhaps my life wouldn’t be such a waste. Alas, that’s not the case.

The strategy RPG has always adhered too strictly to inaccessible conventions. "Disgaea's" loose, unorthodox gameplay, plus its tongue-in-cheek attitude, is just what the genre needs. "Disgaea" will appeal even to gamers who don't enjoy strategy RPGs. Fans of the genre will enjoy it too. Visual shortcomings aside, "Disgaea" is intelligent, charming, and, most important, fun. Any RPG fan should pick up.

Disgaea is original enough and the storyline is unique enough to differentiate itself from other games in the genre. While I found the in-battle graphics to be a bit bland and the musical score a tad bit dull, the gameplay is solid. Add some very humorous dialogue and some outstanding voice acting to the already solid gameplay, and you've got the makings of a very good game. There is room for improvement, but in the end, Disgaea proves to be an entertaining and pleasurable outing.

Disgaea brings an interesting twist to strategy-RPG's with the item world, character system, and geosymbols. I found myself easily lost in the game. It's quite exciting and if you haven't had the chance to pick this up, I highly recommend you do so. There are countless hours for entertainment to be had!

Disgaea is a turned-based strategy/RPG game for the Playstation 2. You play the role of Prince Laharl who has awakened from a two-year sleep to find out his father, King Krichevskoy, has passed away. But this isn’t an ordinary King. Krichevskoy was the King of the Underworld, and Laharl is the Prince of the dark realm. To make matters worse, Laharl learned that his father died two years ago, and his servant, Etna, has been trying desperately to awaken him. During his naptime, the dark realm has fallen into chaos, with Demons and other creatures vying for power. Prince Laharl, along with Etna (and others), must battle these forces to regain control of the Underworld.

"Really something" is maybe the right way to describe Disgaea overall. It's a game that's unorthodox above all else, and filled with plenty of cheeky humor, some likable characters, a number of intriguing gameplay elements, and a many, many hours of turn-based combat. This is one of those games that could literally last you a couple of hundred hours if you let it, and if that sounds exciting rather than just plain scary, then by all means give the game a shot. Even if you don't end up leveling your characters into the hundreds or thousands, you'll still probably be glad you got as far as you did.